Eye-set construction for dolls



Sept. 29, 1953 w. BAGGOTT 2,653,414

EYE-SET CONSTRUCTION FOR DOLLS Filed Jan. 14, 1950 IN VEN TOR. EDMUND W.BAQGOTT A 77 02 NE 75 Patented Sept. 29, 1953 :Edmund W. Baggott,Brooklyn, N.. Y., assignor-to .Ideal L'Ioyi Corporation, a corporation.-of. New

'Application anuary. 14, 1950,: Serial No. 138,587 I 2'Glaims. (01.46-469) This invention relates to a .dol1;or other toy figure and isconcerned more especially with an improved simulated eye-set which maybe' easily wand-rapidly mounted in the hollow head of the doll orotherfigure in such a manner as to simulate the-opening of eyeswhen thedollis moved to vertical upright position and the closing of eyes when thedoll is moved to a reclining or horizontal position.

-A. primary object of the invention is the provisionof'an improveddoll-head and eye-set combination which is-characterized by extreme easeand rapidity of assembly as distinguished from prior art constructionsof the same general character.

Another object of the invention is the provisionoi a doll-head andeye-set combinationof the character indicated wherein the doll-headcomprises a pair of interfitting front. and 'rear head sections andwherein the eye-set assembly .may be wholly supported in the front headsection prior to the attachment of the rearhead section thereto.

.An' additional object of.-the invention isthe provision of a.doll-headand eye-set combination of. the character indicatedwhereintheside walls of the front head section are providedadjacent therear edge thereof with a pair of oppositely disposed retaining socketsfor the reception ofintegral mounting lugs formed on the retainingmemberwhich maintains the eye-set in turnable operative position, therebymaking the mounting of the eye-set completely iridependent of the rearhead section andgreatly facilitating assembly of the doll-headandeye-set combination.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a doll-head andeye-set combination of the character indicated which comprises aminimumnumber of component elements, eachof which may be convenientlymoldedfrom suitable material, such as celluloseacetate-or other plasticmaterial. and which -may be readily assembled without requiring the useof auxiliary fastening elements.

The foregoing objects as well as-additional ob- ,iects and advantages ofthe invention will be readily apparent in the course of the followingdetailed description taken inconnectionwith the accompanying drawingwhich illustrates-a preferred embodiment of the invention, and

Wherein- Fig. 1 is: an inner-elevation at the rear of. the

front head: section of the doll with theeye-set andretainingmemberremoved;

2 Fig. .2 is a rearelevation of the. eye-set unit; -Fig.. 3 is asideelevation of the eye-set unit; Fig.4. is a front elevationof the eye-setunit; 1 Fig. 5. is a front perspective viewof the retaining member;

Fig. 6 is an inner elevation at the rear of'the front head sectionshowing the eye-set unit and retaining member assembled therein, aportion of said retaining member being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken-on line 'I-1*of Fig. 6; s

Fig. 8 is a sectional-detailview taken on line 8-ii of Fig. 6,-and VFig. 9 is a medial vertical sectiontakenon line 9-9of Fig. 6 and showingthe complete assembly with the rear head section. in position.

.In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thedoll-head-comprises a front head section l0 and a rear head section I I.Both of thesehead sections are preferably molded from suitable plasticmaterial, such as cellulose acetate or thelike, andare preferablyflesh-colored for imparting greater verisimilitude to the doll-head.Front and rear headsections l0 and H are each preferably provided withintegral, depending,-semi circular flanges 12 and I3 respectively whichdefine. anannul-ar neck projection when said headsections are fittedtogether. Annular neck projection l2, 13 may be attached to a doll body(not shown). Alternatively, head sections" [0 and II maybe moldedintegrally with respective'body sections, if desired.

The rear edge-wall of front head section I9 is provided with aseries-ofrearwardlyprojecting lugs Land the front edge-wall of rear head sectionH is provided with a series of sockets S so that said front and rearhead sections may be interfitted by locating the lugs L in theirrespective sockets S.

Front head section 10 is providedwith suitably disposed eye openings or.eye sockets M. Whose edge walls are preferably beveled in order to allow accuratewfit and turning movement of the eyemembers: H3 in" said-eyesockets. A pair of transversely aligned bearings 55 is provided in frontheadasection' l0, said-bearings being preferably molded integrally withthe inner wall thereof. Each bearing I5 includes a pair of alignedsockets lfi'andran intermediate bearing recess H,-which is open at itsrear face and also at its side face adjacent the respective eye sockat Mfor the receptionof the turnable eye-set is, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

;.Eye-set .18 is, preferably molded from fleshcoloredplastic material as;-a one-piece unit. It

comprises two cup-shaped eye-shells l9 interconnected by a transversebridge 20. Each eyeshell I9 has an integral pivot-lug 2! extendingtransversely outwardly therefrom. Said pivot lugs 2| are received in thebearing recesses ll of bearings 15 and serve for turnably mountingeyeset 18 between said bearings. The outer convex face of each eye-shellI9 is marked or imprinted in any suitable manner to provide imitationeyes E which are movable into and out of registration with eye sockets ii in order to simulate the opening and closing of eyes. The surfacemarkings may be applied to pieces of paper or other material, which arethen afiixed in proper position to the convex outer faces of eye-shellsI3.

In order to provide for turning movement of eye-set it as the doll ismoved from upright vertical position to reclining horizontal position,transverse bridge 23 is formed integrally with a depending bar 2% whichis provided with a terminal enlargement 22 in order to provide thenecessary biasing weight. A forwardly extending stop or abutment 23 isformed integrally with enlargement 22. When the doll-head is held innormal upright and vertical position, bar 29a assumes a verticalposition with stop 28 in abutment against a respective portion of thefront head section I d, as shown in Fig. 9 thereby maintaining eyes E ofthe eye members it in accurate registration within the eye sockets M.

On the other hand, when the doll-head is inclined rearwardly in acounterclockwise direction from its position of Fig. 9, eye-set it willturn clockwise on the axis of its pivot-lugs 2i by reason of the biasingweight or enlargement 22, thereby causing the imitation eyes E to moveout of registration with the eye sockets M and to expose theflesh-colored portions of eye-members i9 above said eyes in realisticsimulation of closed eyelids and a recumbent sleeping position of thedoll.

If desired, the transverse bridge 2i! of eye-set 18 may be provided witha laterally projecting lug 24 which serves as an auxiliary weight andstop member. When the doll-head is in its vertical upright position ofFig. 9, the weight of said lug 2d serves to bias eye-set E8 to turncounterclockwise relative to the doll head and to maintain the eyes E inaccurate registration with the eye sockets i4. ficient length to abutthe upper edge of retaining member 25, as shown in Fig. 9, in thevertical position of the doll-head, thereby preventing thecounterclockwise rotation of eye-set it beyond the desired position ofregistration of eyes E within eye sockets. Thus lug 2:? may supplementthe action of lower forwardly extending stop 23 for accurateregistration of the eyes E within the eye sockets Id. Of course, theauxiliary lug 2 may be omitted.

A significant feature of the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of retaining member 25 and its operative association withfront head section to maintain eye-set it in assembled operativeposition wholly independently of rear head section I I, thereby greatlycontributing to economy, rapidity and ease of assembly of the doll-head.As best shown in Fig. 5, retaining member 25 is provided with a pair oflateral and forwardly extending holding arms 26 and an integral rearconnecting portion 21'. Each lateral arm 25 is provided with a pair ofintegral studs 29 extending forwardly from its front face. In assemblingthe eye-set turnably within the bearing recesses I! of bearings l5,

The lug 24 may also be of sufsockets l6.

4 studs 29 of retaining member 25 are received within the respectiverecesses or sockets is of respective bearings l5.

In order to support eye-set it! within the dollhead completelyindependently of rear head section II, the arrangement of the presentinvention provides for directly and fixedly securing retaining member 25to front head section It. For this purpose front head section it isformed adjacent its rear edge-wall with a pair of oppositely disposedintegral sockets 3d. Retaining member 25 is provided with lateral lugs3i which are preferably formed integrally with the rear connectingportion 21 thereof. After eye-set It has been installed in position withpivot-lugs 2! received within the bearing recesses ll of bearings I5,retaining member 25 is adjusted into position with studs 29 retainedwithin bearing Lateral lugs 3| are simultaneously received withinsockets 3B of front head section it to complete the eye-set assemblyprior to assembling the front and rear head sections i ii and H. Ifdesired, adhesive may be employed to firmly seat the lugs 31 within thesockets 3B of front head section I0, although a secure friction or snapfit may sufiice between said lugs and sockets.

Following the assembly of the eye-set i8 and retaining member 25 in themanner indicated, the front and rear head sections are interfitted byaligning lugs L and sockets S and adhesive may be applied along theirabutting edge-walls.

Since certain modifications may be made in the device of the presentinvention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawing be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A molded doll-head comprising hollow front and rear half headsections adapted to be fixedly joined along their facing peripheraledges, said front head section having a convex front wall containing apair of transversely spaced eye openings, a pair of integrally-moldedbearing members located on the rear surface of said front head sectionadjacent to and spaced on opposite sides of said eye openings, saidbearing members having opposed side faces containing transversely-alinedbearing recesses which extend to the respective rear faces of saidbearing members, a molded eye set having eye members and a pair ofalined laterally-projecting pivot pins insertable within said bearingrecesses from the rear of said front head section and turnable in saidbearing recesses with the eye members in registration with said eyeopenings, a pair of socket members integrally molded on opposite sidesof the rear edge-wall of said front head section and spaced transverselyand rearwardly of the bearing members, said socket members havingrespective facting sockets each or which opens into the rear face andalso into the inner face of its respective socket member, and aretaining member having a pair of spaced parallel legs joined by anintegrally-molded connecting arm, said legs having fiat, planar frontends, said connecting arm having a pair of lugs extending laterally fromopposite sides thereof, said lugs being sized and adapted to be insertedand fixed within the respective sockets from the rear of said front headsection to couple the retaining member to said front head section, saidlegs being SllffiClQIltlY long to extend forwardly with the planar frontends of said legs respectively abutting the rear faces of said bearingmembers and extending across the recesses therein in the coupledposition of said retaining member, thereby holding the eye member pivotpins rotatably within said bearing recesses.

2. A doll head according to claim 1 in which each bearing membercontains respective socket openings on its rear face, said socketopenings being spaced on either side of the bearing recess, and theforward ends of each retaining member leg bears corresponding projectingstub pins which fit within said socket openings when said retainingmember lugs are in their inserted positions.

EDMUND W. BAGGOTT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber Name Date Wilhelm May 24, 1932 Andes May 16, 1933 Hoffman Dec.10, 1940 Wilhelm Mar. 27, 1951 Baggott Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date Great Britain Mar. 11, 1942

